How many points did you get in your Leaving Cert?

No, I can’t remember mine either. Granted, the points systems worked on a different grading system back then, and while there was a “points race” it was nothing like it is now. Somehow, over the years what should be a fair, objective and all-equal HE entry mechanism of separating the academically deserving from the not-so-deserving seems to have veered off course.

Now, our new Minister for Education wants rid of the points system.

No-one will question the decision. However, the obvious question is what he will replace it with. Here’s where our crafty Minister shows his power of delegation. Instead of getting the thinking-caps of the department of education onto the job, he’s put the task to the university heads to sit down together and trash out an alternative. And they have until September to come up with a solution – a tall order indeed? The solution even has to be solid, that’s nothing “wishy washy” now. The solution has to be realistic, solid, workable with all strands working together.

The plus side is that the universities have been given power on a plate to design, develop and implement a system they would like. The problem is what it might possibly look like.

Should it have formal end-of-year exams?

Should it have more continuous-assessment (CA) through-out the year?

Who sets, approves and grades this CA?

There is a call for more thinking and analytical skills. What is the best way to teach and assess this?

Should Leaving Cert students have more of a say in their assessment and curriculum?

Should Irish remain a compulsory subject?

Is the concept of splitting content into “subjects” old-fashioned?

How might extra-curricular activities be incorporated into the mix?

How might the role of the teacher change with a new system?

What impact might there be on physical (or other) resources (individual recyclable science kits anyone?) and who will fund them

I am curious as to the university heads come up with, and how they will implement it. Exciting times are ahead.